Mama Parker's Mac-n-cheese

Ingredients:

16 ounces elbow macaroni or shells
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups milk (not skim)
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
2 cups of shredded cheese (I like sharp cheddar and Swiss)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a generous sprinkling of salt the pasta.

While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet or pot large enough to hold the pasta when it's done.Add the flour and stir until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.

Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps and add the salt, pepper, Paprika, and ground mustard.

When the pasta is almost done but still firm, drain it and add to the sauce.

Stir in cheese, then, sprinkle more on top, and bake in a greased 2 quart dish (or an 13X9 pan works pretty well) 40-45 minutes until browned and bubbly..

Mama Parker's Chicken Nuggets

These chicken nuggets are a favorite in our house.  They taste very similar to Chick-fil-A brand chicken nuggets.  Taste for yourself and tell me what you think.

2 pounds (we buy the thin sliced) chicken breast- chopped into bite size peices
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon Chicken rub (when I don't have my own on hand, I use McCormick Grill Mates)
1 tablespoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black Pepper
1 teaspoon Blackened seasoning (we use Old Bay)
2 cups Milk
1 Egg
1/2 teaspoon Frank's hot sauce

Deep fryer with canola oil, heated to full temp.  If you have one that's adjustable temperature,  heat to 400°.

1. Mix together in one bowl the flour, corn starch, and all the seasonings. In a second bowl, mix together milk, egg, and hot sauce.
2. Cut chicken into bite size peices, working in small batches, toss into milk mixture, and then toss into the flour mixture.  Make sure all sides are covered and you have a nice thick layer of flour and seasonings over the chicken.
3. Once covered, gently place into the hot oil and fry for 3-5 minutes.
4.  When done frying and all chicken pieces float to top, pull out and place on plate covered with a paper towel to absorb excess oil.